The Masked Saint

PG-13

Released Jan 8, 2016

1h 51m

Action

Crime

Drama

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List

14%

7 Reviews

Tomatometer

62%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

A professional wrestler (Brett Granstaff) becomes a pastor in a small Michigan town and moonlights as a masked vigilante.

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Justin Chang

Variety

An inauspicious first entry in the Christian pro-wrestling vigilante movie subgenre.

Jan 12, 2016

Full Review

Inkoo Kang

TheWrap

Turns out, you can be both macho and righteous, as long as you're doing it for the Lord. Chris' journey toward that revelation makes up this stretched-out parable, which boasts the kind of Lycra-deep characterization we associate with the... genre.

Rated: 30/100

Jan 8, 2016

Full Review

Peter Sobczynski

RogerEbert.com

The only thing about it worth remembering is that it was the last film made by wrestler-turned-actor Roddy Piper before his death last year.

Rated: 1.5/4

Jan 8, 2016

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Renee Schonfeld

Common Sense Media

Trite faith-based tale has mature themes, lots of violence.

Rated: 1/5

Apr 19, 2016

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Norman Wilner

NOW Toronto

[The filmmakers] fail to wrestle this script - no pun intended - into something organic and believable.

Rated: 2/5

Jan 21, 2016

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Vincent Mancini

FilmDrunk

It isn't great filmmaking, it mostly isn't even competent filmmaking. But in a world of bankrupt profiteering disguised as religion, a faith-based movie that teaches people to be nicer to each other is something that deserves to be celebrated.

Rated: B-

Jan 14, 2016

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Edward E

I found the film entertaining and inspiring.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/02/23

Full Review

Merida S

The acting is passable, the cinematography is above D-rate, and the script is predictable and gets clunky at points. However, this movie knows exactly what it is, which makes it worth watching if you want something heartwarming (not for young kids!!!) to watch. It's also really lovely to see a portrayal of Christians as something other than bigots or predators, without it being sanctimonious. Overall, cute movie.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/18/22

Full Review

Audience Member

The Masked Saint was adapted from a book of the same name that is loosely based on the life of a pro wrestler who left a ten year career to become a pastor. I have not read the book, nor do I know how much of the story is true and how much is fictionalized. What I do know is this is a unique twist on the faith-based movie genre that taps into a desire many have to fight the bad guys and come out victorious. In this film version, successful wrestler Chris Samuels, who fights under the title The Saint, leaves his wrestling career behind to become a pastor at a small town church with lots of problems. The neighborhood is on the other side of the tracks and many unsaintly characters are hanging out on the streets. The church congregation has diminished down to a handful and most of the finances are being donated by one man, Judd Lumpkin, who believes that gives him the right to control everything. And to top it all off, Pastor Chris has a hard time delivering a good sermon and the church choir is tone deaf. This story has a subtle sense of humor that pushes the characterization over the top creating a light-hearted look at otherwise difficult situations. Pastor Chris first has to do battle with the pompous and controlling big donor, Judd Lumpkin. Then, in a case of being in the right place at the right time, Pastor Chris rescues a prostitute from a beating being delivered by her pimp. Later, Pastor Chris comes to the rescue at a robbery in a diner. When it comes to fighting for the survival of his church, Pastor Chris is coached by an elderly church member they call Ms. Edna, played by veteran actress Diahann Carroll. Ms. Edna convinces Pastor Chris to get back in the wrestling ring to earn the money needed to keep the church alive. What we end up with is a pastor who is a wrestler on the side and a vigilante being investigated by the police in his spare time. The Masked Saint is a well-made film, with good cinematography, quality directing, and some top-notch acting. The wrestling scenes, like much of this film, are a little over the top, but nicely designed and photographed. This is a fanciful story about a pastor becoming a part-time crime fighter. Rather than trying to pass this off as a plausible true life story, a decision was made to develop this concept as a fantasy with a thin line of truth. Much of the exaggerated circumstances that drive this story have enough realism in them to create a spark of possibility. In the end, what really comes to life is the idea that complaining accomplishes nothing. Problems are solved by those who take action.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I really enjoy this movie. He is a man of faith with the spirit of a fighter. What he does to help others is such a blessing. I strongly recommend this movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is a great movie. We loved it so much we purchased a copy for our permanent collection. Have shared it with friends and family members. Everyone who has seen this movie has purchased their own DVD so they can also share. The story is inspiring and shows how no matter what life brings we can do whatever God sees fit to put in our path. Highly recommended for all ages.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Excellent family movie, though I'd recommend it for ages over 10. Good story line, fast moving and lots of action with great morals.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

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Warren P. Sonoda

Director

Brett Granstaff

Chris

Lara Jean Chorostecki

Michelle

Diahann Carroll

Ms. Edna

Patrick McKenna

Judd Lumpkin

Roddy Piper

Nicky Stone

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The Masked Saint: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

A professional wrestler (Brett Granstaff) becomes a pastor in a small Michigan town and moonlights as a masked vigilante.

Director: Warren P. Sonoda
Producer: Gary Granstaff, Joe Sisto
Screenwriter: Scott Crowell, Brett Granstaff
Distributor: Freestyle Releasing
Production Co: Ridgerock Entertainment Group, P23 Entertainment
Rating: PG-13 (Thematic Elements|Some Violence)
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 8, 2016, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 5, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $182.0K
Runtime: 1h 51m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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